"Hahaha, let's see what we have here?"
"It seems we have a visitor."
As Jester started regaining his eyesight, his golden, olive-tinted eyes slowly cleared as the blur within them faded away. He saw a handsome black-haired boy, around twelve years old, with dark golden eyes. The boy wore a clown makeup mask and had long black nails on his arms. A cocky smile rested on his face.
"Where's Velmoro?"
"Who is that?" the boy answered.
"There's no one here other than us."
Jester raised his hand.
"Do you see what's written here?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I think they got me a crazy kid this time," the black-haired boy chuckled.
In a whole second, Jester understood everything that was happening. It seemed to him that he had been transported into his soul . According to what Velmoro and the others had taught him, once you start a contract blessing, you are immediately transported into your soul field.
Jester started looking around, observing everything.
He saw his green field in the distance, the surrounding dried trees, and the gray sky that looked like it was about to rain.
"Hm, that doesn't seem like what I expected," Jester said.
"It seems he doesn't want to show himself, or his real soul field."
As Jester was forming questions in his mind, the voice of the black-haired boy interrupted him.
"Are you ready for the test, Jester? It seems you are ready to start mine."
"I will start your test now."
"Haaaaaaaa."
Jester let out a long yawn.
"Hmmm, who are you again, kid?"
"Did you lose your mummy here or something?"
The black-haired boy's smile disappeared, replaced by a dark frown as he stared at Jester.
"It seems your bad mouth has a taste for trouble."
"I think you don't know who I really am," the boy said.
"What should I know about some random kid with no style?"
"You seem new here and don't know the laws."
"So let me clarify a few things for you."
"First, I am your contract blessing."
"Jenzo, the Cursed Clown Blessed."
"Second, I am not someone you can mess with."
"Yeah, what's so special?" Jester mumbled, treating the boy with clear ignorance.
"Just change your clown style next time. You look like an old, expired clown. Those clothes don't suit you."
"You should try a pink style next time. I see your potential as a female clown more than this."
"Damn you, white-haired bastard."
"It seems you have no manners left."
The black-haired boy raised his hand, surging a wave of black mana energy. The trees around Jester shattered, forcing him to his knees.
"Talk like that again."
"And I will kill you."
Jester closed his eyes as Jenzo's aura crushed him.
"So this is my soul field," Jester thought.
"And this kid is under my control, yet still acting recklessly in my territory."
"This blud really acting like this juices "
"I know you're here," Jester spoke in his mind.
"Lend me your power for a few seconds."
"Also, sorry for the interruption, buddy."
Jester chuckled, stopped thinking, and began acting.
"I am really sorry, Mr. High and Mighty Jenzo. I didn't know you were this strong."
The black-haired boy withdrew his aura as Jester apologized and showed respect.
Jester stood up and walked toward him, wearing his most sincere smile.
"Let me kiss Your Majesty's arm to atone for my sins."
"These mortal clown eyes failed to recognize Your Majesty, Sir Jenzo."
A smile appeared on Jenzo's face as Jester overwhelmed him with praise.
But before Jenzo could enjoy it, a sharp cracking sound echoed as he dropped to his knees.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Before Jenzo could realize what happened, Jester had already driven his knee into Jenzo's groin, sending him rolling on the ground in pain.
Jester sat on top of him and started punching his face, making Jenzo bleed.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Jenzo tried to break free.
"Damn it, I can't use my power. Something has negated it."
A creepy smile appeared on Jester's face as he put his right finger in his ear, pulling out orange earwax. He then moved to Jenzo's nose and grabbed some thick green mucus.
He smiled even wider.
"What are you doing to me?" Jenzo screamed.
"What would I do, as any good elder?"
"There's nothing better than abusing kids after a good nap."
"Leave me alone!"
Without hesitation, Jester shoved everything into Jenzo's mouth and forced him to swallow.
At that moment, Jester used the power he had been given for a few seconds and manipulated that specific area, as he was the true owner of this place. That was what negated Jenzo's power.
"You damn bastard!"
Jenzo tried to bite Jester's hand, only for Jester to break his teeth.
"Hey, kid. Didn't your mom tell you never to talk like that to your elders?"
Jester raised his hand and imagined a knife. One instantly appeared. Without hesitation, he threw it at Jenzo's face.
"Heeeheehee!"
A creepy voice echoed from behind Jester.
"This is funny. It's the first time in my entire career I've seen a host bully his contract blessing."
"Correct that," Jester replied.
"I am abusing him."
Before the knife could penetrate, a small tarot card shot out from behind Jester, knocking it away and pinning it into a tree.
Jester looked up and saw another clown wearing purple and blue, with a smiling mask. One leg rested on a tree branch, his body leaning downward, a wide grin on his face.
"Hmmm."
"You already discovered that we are inside your inner soul."
"That's why you weakened him, Mr. Jester."
"Not bad for a teen. I see potential."
"It's rare to control something like this at such a young age."
"But bad news. This won't work when I am here."
"Boof!"
The man in the purple suit exploded into fog.
As Jester looked at his hand, a powerful grip suddenly clenched his fist and sent him flying.
Jester quickly controlled the momentum, grabbed a thick branch with both hands, rolled, released it, and landed firmly on the ground.
"Who are you?"
"Me? I am merely the referee, responsible for observing clown contract blessing tests."
"You can call me Kinjo."
"Since both of you crossed the guidelines for a blessing ceremony, I will take responsibility now."
"You should already know that if you do not agree on the contract within thirty minutes, without using force, you will both fall under the referee's control."
"I will begin."
"Focus, Mr. Jenzo and Jester."
Kinjo moved his hand swiftly. A tarot card appeared and was thrown to the ground.
The surroundings began to disappear. Three massive rocks flew into place, forming a circus. A large number of clowns appeared, surrounding them.
"Let's begin."
"The rules are simple, since this is your first time, Jester."
"You will play three games."
"Three games?"
"Why is it always three?"
"Couldn't we do two and go home?"
"Can we do this after my nap?"
"I'm emotionally unavailable for murder right now."
Kinjo ignored Jester's yapping.
"Whoever wins two out of three gains control over the other."
"If one wins all three, the loser becomes the other's slave."
"Slavery?"
"Is there a bathroom break during slavery?"
"I don't like unpaid overtime."
"I hate capitalism."
"If the score is two to one, the contract will be manageable and built on equal agreement."
"If it is one to one, you will both be punished. It will become a forced blessing, which may corrupt you or even result in death."
"This test will be broadcast live to the higher-ups, because I'm betting my entire salary."
"Wait for me, Larry. I will take Referee of the Year from you."
"So dance for me, clowns. I need my bonus today."
"Entertain my guests."
A large black screen appeared in the air, showing ten mysterious clown figures seated in a dark room.
Kinjo bowed.
"My Majesties, I have found a great candidate."
"I will bet on him."
Amid the curious gazes, some bored, some intrigued, a dark crimson glow flared in Jester's eyes for a brief moment. He frowned slightly, then it vanished, leaving his expression calm and unreadable.